Report: Starbucks Forces Six Police Officers Out the Door When Customer Complains of Feeling Unsafe
Police officers learned on the Fourth of July that they were not welcome in one Tempe, Arizona, Starbucks.
The irate Tempe Officers Association explained the incident in a series of tweets.
“Yesterday, on Independence Day, six Tempe police officers stopped by the Starbucks at Scottsdale Road and McKellips for coffee. The officers paid for their drinks and stood together having a cup of coffee before their long 4th of July shift,” the union tweeted on Friday.
“They were approached by a barista, who knew one of the officers by name, because he is a regular at that location. The barista said that a customer ‘did not feel safe’ because of the police presence. The barista asked the officers to move out of the customer’s line of sight or to leave. Disappointed, the officers did in fact leave.
“This treatment of public safety workers could not be more disheartening. While the barista was polite, making such a request at all was offensive. Unfortunately, such treatment has become all too common in 2019.
“We know this is not a national policy at Starbucks Corporate and we look forward to working collaboratively with them on this important dialogue,” the union tweeted.
2/4 and stood together having a cup of coffee before their long 4th of July shift. They were approached by a barista, who knew one of the officers by name, because he is a regular at that location. The barista said that a customer “did not feel safe” because of the police…
— Tempe Officers Association (@ToaAz) July 6, 2019
4/4.. at all was offensive. Unfortunately, such treatment has become all too common in 2019.
We know this is not a national policy at Starbucks Corporate and we look forward to working collaboratively with them on this important dialogue.— Tempe Officers Association (@ToaAz) July 6, 2019
Rob Ferraro, president of the police union, said the incident is symptomatic of the larger problem gripping America, KSAZ-TV reported.
“It’s become accepted to not trust or to see police and think that we’re not here to serve you, and again, it goes back to — we take great pride of the level of customer service we provide to citizens, and to be looked at as feeling unsafe when you have law enforcement around you is somewhat perplexing to me,” Ferraro said.
The union has not called for a boycott but has made its displeasure with Starbucks known.
“Don’t appreciate @Starbucks asking our #Tempe cops to leave your establishment on the #4thofjuly2019. Several of those cops are #veterans who fought for this country! #ZeroRespect,” it tweeted Friday.
Don’t appreciate @Starbucks asking our #Tempe cops to leave your establishment on the #4thofjuly2019. Several of those cops are #veterans who fought for this country! #ZeroRespect pic.twitter.com/oGaDKhlYX3
— Tempe Officers Association (@ToaAz) July 5, 2019
Many on Twitter condemned the barista’s actions.
@Starbucks, both the #Tempe police officers and the person feeling unsafe were customers. Why were the police officers asked to leave rather than the person making the allegation? Let the customer feel safe at home alone; welcome first responders. https://t.co/guSqdpUil1
— Dan Fancher (@ltcdfancher) July 6, 2019
another incident of a business employee asking police to leave (Tempe AZ)…Starbucks guest said felt uncomfortable…I say the ungrateful snowflakes should move to North Korea and see how much freedom is offered over there compared to USA pic.twitter.com/aEmA1zI4zu
— Gary L. Travis (@GaryLTravis1) July 6, 2019
A Starbucks spokesman said the company is investigating the incident, according to the Arizona Republic.
“We have a deep respect for the Tempe Police and their service to the community,” spokesman Reggie Borges said. “We’ve reached out to the Tempe Police Department and Tempe Officers Association to better understand what happened and apologize. We want everyone in our stores to feel welcomed and the incident described is not indicative of what we want any of our customers to feel in our stores.”
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